Match-box.



l. T. ANKERS.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 2B. 1916.

Patented M ay 22, 1917.

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- JOSEPH T. ANKERS, OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

MATCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application led July 28, 1916. Serial No. 111,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH T. ANxnRs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlottesville, in the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in match boxes, and the primary obj ectof the invention is to provide a pocket match box or receptacle which may be conveniently carried and refilled as;;required, and which will hold the matches intact, while permitting of one or more matches being extracted at a time.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a top plan View of a match box embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections, showing, respectively, the inner receptacle, in normal and extracting positions.

Fig. v5 is an end elevation of the box.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a match box or receptacle comprising an outer casing l and an inner drawer or receptacle 2, said inner drawer or receptacle being adapted to contain a supply of matches 3. The box is preferably of oblong rectangular form, and of a size to be conveniently carried in the pocket, and, as shown, the outer casing 1 of said pockets is closed except at its top where it is provided with a match extraction opening'li of just sufficient size for the convenient insertion of the thumb and fore-finger in the operation of grasping and extracting a match.

The drawer or receptacle 2 is open at the I top to permit of the insertion and removal of the matches and is mounted for sliding longitudinal motion within the outer casing. As shown, a spring 5 is provided for pressing the drawer or receptacle forward to an extent limited by the forward end walls of the casing and receptacle, the receptacle being relatively shorter than the casing to permit of such sliding movements. A pin 6 projects from one side of the forward end of the receptacle through a longitudinal guide slot 7 in the side of the casing and 1s provided with a linger piece 8 whereby sald receptacle may be retracted against the resistance ofthe spring.

Vhen the matches are laid longitudinally in position within the drawer or receptacle 2, which is held in its forward position by the spring, it will be observed that the ends yof the matches project beyond the front and rear walls of the opening 4, which is of such restricted size that the matches can not be extracted when the drawer is in such position. By however sliding the drawer backward the forward or headed ends of the matches will be brought to such position beneath the opening 4 that by tilting a match upward the match may be withdrawn in an obvious manner. It will thus be understood that when the box is held in one hand and the linger piece 8 pressed backward by the thumb of such hand, to slide the receptacle 2 rearwardly against the resistance of the spring 5, the upper matches of the pile 3 will be disposed in position to be extracted, so that by inserting the thumb and fore-linger of the other hand down through the opening l one or more matches may be grasped and tilted up at an angle for withdrawal.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing the construction and mode of use of my improved match box will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention provides a box of the character described which is simple of construction, capable of being readily and conveniently carried in the pocket and by means of which the matches will at all times be held confined and protected, but that by manipulating the drawer or slide in the manner described one or more matches may be easily extracted. These and other advantages will be evident from the foregoing description.

I claim:-

l. A match box comprising an outer receptacle having a restricted extraction opening, a sliding drawer mounted within said receptacle and having an open side facing said extraction opening, means for holding the drawer normally in a position so that the ends of a body of matches contained in the drawer will project beyond opposite walls of the extraction opening to prevent extraction of said matches, and means for adjusting the drawer to a position to admit of the matches being tilted and drawn outward through the extraction opening.

2. A match boX of the character described comprising an oblong rectangular outer casing having an extraction opening of restricted size in the top wall thereof, a drawer slidably mounted within said casing and having an open side facing the aforesaid side of the casing, said drawer being adapted to contain a body of matches extending longitudinally of the receptacle, means for normally and yieldingly holding the drawer slid in one direction to dispose the matches so that their ends project beyond opposite walls of the extraction opening whereby rcmoval of the matches is prevented, and mean-s for sliding the drawer in the reverse direction against the resistance of the aforesaid means, whereby to bring the forward ends of the matches into such relation to the extraction opening as to admit of said matches being tilted and drawn outward through the opening.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOSEPH T. ANKERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

